Method of and machine for grinding tapered rollers



INVENTOR AToRNEl a" Original Filed Feb. 26, 1923 METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR GRINDING TAPERED ROLLE Patented 'Aug. 21, 1934 rm'rnon or AND momma Fon Gamnnm rsrnasn aounas John W. Smith, New Britain,

mesne assignments, to The a corporation of Ohio Bearing Company,

Conn, assignol', by Timken Roller Application February 28, 1923, Serial No. 621,119 Renewed October 28, v1926 21 Claims. (c1. s1 1o3i My invention relates to a centerless grinding method of and machine for grinding tapered rollers such as are used in tapered roller bearings.

. In general the object of my invention is to pro- 6 vide a simple and eflicient centerless grinding method of and machine for rapidly and economically grinding tapered rollers.

is a more specific object of my invention to provide a centerless grinding method of and me.-

chine for grinding tapered rollers in which blanks to be ground may be continuously fed in at one side of a grinding wheel with their axes at an angle surface so as to grind the blanks on a taper, and

' the finished tapered rollers discharged at the opposite side of the grinding wheel.

In the preferred form of machine for carrying out my invention, a work holder, oftentermed the regulating member in the centerless grinding art, is mounted adjacent the grinding face of a grinding wheel and the work holder is preferably provided with a helical groove for holding blanks to be ground and causing the latter to be progrossed or guided across the face of the grinding wheel. The bottom of the helical groove is formed at an angle to the axis. of the work holder, so that the axes of the blanks held in the groove will be presented at an angle to the face of the grinding wheel so as to cause the blanks to be ground on a taper; A work support serves to position the blanks held between the regulating and grinding wheels. The work holder is rotated ata suitable speed relatively to the speed of the grinding wheel, so as to cause the blanks to be rotated and to be ground on a taper by the grinding wheel and the tapered rollers to be successively discharged after,

being ground.

In the drawing which shows for illustrative purposes only, a preferred form of the invention: Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a centerless grinding machine embodying features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a relatively enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of a section of a grinding wheel and work holding means with blanks in position to'be ground.

In the preferred form shown, a suitable base 5 is provided, on which is mounted the: grindin wheel base 6, having the bearing standards 7-7 thereon. The grinding wheel 8 is mounted on a shaft 9 rurming in suitable hearings in the standards 7-7. A pulley 10 on the shaft 9 serves to drive the grinding wheel as will be readily understood. The base 6, together with the shield or thereto, fed or guided across the grinding hood 11, is preferably slidably mounted on the base 5, and a positioning screw 12, coacting with the lug 13 and-actuated by the hand wheel 14, serves to position the grinding 'disk in proper position relativelyk to the work holder so. as to compensate for wear on the wheel and to permit the grinding of blanks of diflerent sizes.

In the present disclosure the base 5 is provided with the work holder standards 15-15 and the work holder 19 between said standards is supported by the shafts 16-'-17 journalled in said standards. The work holder or regulating member 19 is rotated to feed or guide and rotate the blanks and in the form shown is driven from the main shaft 9 by means of the belt 18. The speed ratio of the work holder and grinding wheel will vary according to conditions.

The work holder itself is preferably in the form of a substantially cylindrical body anda helical groove 20 is so formed in the body 19 that the bottom of the groove lies at an angle to the axis of the cylindrical body in order that tapered rollers may be ground, as will be hereinafter described.

Between the grinding wheel and the work go holder 19 may be positioned the work support 22, which is preferably inclined at the top as shown in Fig. 2, so as to cause the blanks to tend to fall away from the wheel. On reference to Fig; 2, it-will be seen that a blank such as 23 will be supported in the grinding throat formed by and-between the grinding wheel, the work support, and the work holder or regulating member.

A feed chute 25 has been conventionally shown, and a similar conventional discharge chute is designated 26.

The operation is as follows:

The pulley 10 is driven so as to cause the grinding wheel to be rotated at the proper speed and in counter-clockwise direction to cause the 95 grinding surface adjacent the work rest 22 to travel downwardly as viewed in Fig. 2. Through the medium of the belt 18, the work holder or regulating member 19 is rotated at a relatively slow rate in counter-clockwise direction to cause 1 the surface adjacent the work rest 22 to travel upwardly as viewed in Fig. 2. Blanks to be ground are introduced into the feed chute'25 and fed,- preferably by gravity, to the work holder where they positionthemselves in the helical groove 20 and'are fed or guided across the face 01' the grindingwh'eel by means of the helical ribs or top defining portions of the helical groove.

Now, since the bottom of the helical groove is inclined at an angle to the axis of the holder no and-to the face of the grinding wheel, it will be ing of the work piece in addition to axial posi-- obvious that each of' the blanks will be pretioning thereof. M sented to the grinding wheel with the axes at an While -I have described in detail a preferred I do not wish to be limited angle to the grinding wheel, so that each blank form of my invention,

The grinding surto the form herein shown, for many changes may.

will be ground on a taper.

face, the helical inclined surface and the work be made within the scope of the'appended claims. support form a tapered throat or a plurality'of I claim: such throats progressive longitudinally during 1. In a centerless grinding machine, a grindrotation of the work holder. The blanks in the ing wheel, aw'ork holder positioned adiacent'the helical groove will be fed or guided across the face of said grinding wheel and comprising a 8! face of the grinding wheel in a path substan substantially cylindrical body having a helical tially parallel to ,thegrinding face and, due to groove on the outside thereof for holding. a the rotation of the work holder or regulating blank to be ground, the bottom of said groove member and the grinding wheel, the blanks will lying at an angle to the axis to the cylindrical 1 be rotated on their own axes and their rotation body, a work support positioned between the 00 controlled so as to present the entire surface grinding wheel and work holder whereby ablank of the blank to the grinding wheel so that a commay be held by the wheel, the work support plete and finished tapered article will be proand work holder, and means for rotating said duced. The ground tapered blanks will be disgrinding wheel and said work holder to cause charged into the discharge chute 26 and con-' the blank to be fed across the face .of the grindveyed to a suitable container. ing wheel and to be ground to irustro conical In the form shown the work holder is proshape. .vided with two helical grooves. The speed at 2. In a centerless grindingmachine for. finwhich the blanks are fed or guided across the ishing tapered roller's, a grinding element, means SI face of the grinding wheel will of course defor holding aplurality of roller blanks with their pend on the speed of rotation of the work holder axes pitched at an angleto said grinding eleand the pitch of the rib thereon and proper ment, and means for guiding said plurality of speed of feed will of course depend upon conroller blanks endwise across said grinding eleditions and be regulated accordingly. "ment, in a path substantially parallel to the so It will-be seen that with the machine herein grinding element whereby rollers may engage described, tapered rollers may be very rapidly said grinding element'at one side and be dis and economically produced. The machine is-charged, at the opposite side. substantially automatic, the blanks being fed 3. In a centerless grinding machine for nnish.

, in at one side and discharged at the other. ing tapered rollers, a grinding element, rotating 85 For rollers having diflerent. tapers, it will of means for holding" a plurality of. roller blanks llO course be necessary to substitute work holders in engagement with sa'd grinding element in having the helical groove at a difierent angle end to end relation with their axes pitched at to the axis of the holder, and for rollers of dif-- an angle to said grinding element, and means ferent th k s t is necessary to djust the for rotating said first mentioned means for caus- 40' distance between the holder or regulating meming said roller blanksto rotate on their own axes and to cause said roller blanks to be fed across her and the grinding wheel. v

p d rollers a bee ground, Prior o said grinding element in a path substantially my invention, without the aid of chucks or cenparallel to said grinding element.

4. In a centerless grinding machine for finishters, that is, by the centerless grinding method, ll" on machineshaving a grinding wheel and a ing tapered rollers, a grinding element, a pluwork holder orreguletin e ge with rality of supporting. means for roller blanks to e Work pp ar anged so as to produce support the latter in endwise relation and with a tapered throat The blanks '6 be grou d e e the axes of said roller blanks at an angle to the fed into this tapered throat to an extent sufilgrinding element, means for rotating one of said 50 cient to form or finish a tapered surface, after supporting means to cause said roller blanks to which the tapered roll is withdrawn. rearwardly be rotated during their passage across said grindand a new blank inserted. ing element, and means for guiding roller blanks I believe I am the first to produce taper d longitudinally and in succession across said rollers by the centerless grinding method wheregrindingelement whereby rollers may be ground 5;! in blanks may be continu usly f d n n i and successively discharged at one side of said one after the other at one side of a grinding grinding element.. wheel, fed or guided endwise across the latter, 5, The centerless grinding method of grinding anddischarged as finished tapered rollers at a tapered roller which includes, supporting a he pp Side Of the grinding Wheel; y n w roller substantially along elements of a conical 80 method is con ap and ca and surface and in contact with a grinding surface the wear on t grinding as Well -5 0n the regllsubstantially along an element of the same conila ins Wheel is more uniform than wh n e cal surface and causing a relative movement beintermittent in and out feeding method heretotween the roller blank and grinding surface fore mentioned is employed. along a path substantially parallel to the grind- The invention has been described specifically ing surface until the entire roller has passed in connection w t h grinding of pered rollers, endwise from one side of the grinding surface to but the principles of the invention are applicable the other, and rotating the roller while in conto the grinding of other elongated bodies whether t t ith th grinding surface, tapered or not. I 6. In a centerless grinding machine for grind- 70. It is to be noted that one of the wheels, and ing tapered rollers, a grinding wheel, work holdas specifically shown the regulating wheel, is ing means for engaging a roller blank substanprovided with means to position a work piece tially along elements thereof and holding the axially during grinding; such means preferably roller blank in engagement with said grinding is in the form of a rib which may extend spirally wheelsubstantially along an element of said roll- 75 or helically so as to cause or permit axial feeder blank with the axis of said blank Pi c ed at an angleto the grinding surface of said grindingwheel, and means for causing a relative movement between the roller blank and said grinding wheel in a path substantially parallel to the grinding surface of said wheel to cause the entire roller to pass from one side of the grinding wheel to the other side thereof.

-7. A centerless grinding machine for grindingtapered rollers including a grinding wheel having a'relatively wideface, a work holder rotatably mounted adjacent the face of said grinding wheel, said work holder having a hellcally formed roller supporting surface thereon pitched at an angle to the grinding face of said wheel, work supporting means between said' grinding face and work holder, whereby said grinding face and work support and helically formed supporting surface constitute a tapered grinding throat progressive longitudinally from one side of said grinding face to the other during rotation of said work holder, and means for guiding a roller blank held in said grinding throat from one side of said rinding face to the other whereby rollers may be entered-at one side of said grinding face and discharged after being ground at the opposite side thereof.

8. A center-less grinding machine including a grinding wheel, a rotatable drum having a helical groove therein for supporting a roller with the axis pitched at an angle to the grinding face of the wheel, a second supporting means for the roller in said helical groove, and means for rotating said drum for feeding the roller in said helical groove across the grinding face of said .grinding member for grinding. a tapered surface thereon.

9. A centerless grinding machine including a grinding wheel, means for supporting a blank to be ground with the axis of the blank pitched at an angle to the grinding face of said grinding wheel, whereby a tapered surface will be ground on the blank, said means including a rotatable drum having a helical groove therein for receiving blanks to be ground and feeding the same across the face of said grinding wheel.

10. In a centerless grinding machine, a grinding wheel, a work holder positioned adjacent the face of said grinding wheel and comprising a substantially cylindrical body having a helical groove on the outside thereof for positioning a blank to be ground, a work support for supporting a blank positioned between the bottom of said groove and the face of said wheel, the bottom of said groove being formed'to engage a blank along a substantially straight line whereby a blank positioned between the bottom of said groove andthe face of said grinding wheel and said work support willtjbe definitely held against rotation except aboutthe axis of the blank, means for rotating said grinding wheel and said work holder at different surface speeds whereby a blank will be ground by said grinding wheel and itsfrotation about its axis controlled by the rotation of said work holder, and whereby movement of theblank across the face of said grinding wheel will be positively controlled by an edge, of said groove.

11. In a centerless' grinder, a rotatable grind: ing wheel, a work holder for positioning a blank between-the grindingface of said wheel and said work holder, said work holder being formed to prevent rotation of the blank except about itsaxis, said work holder beingmovable in a direcambiance-m the direction of movement of the grinding face of said wheel and at a different speed, and helical means for positively controlling movement of a blank rotation of a blank while being positioned as aforesaid.

12. In a centerless grinder, a grinding wheel; a work holder and a work support, said members having surfaces to engage a blank to be ground and to prevent rotation of the blank except about its own axis, means for moving the grinding surface of. said grinding wheel and said work holder in opposite directions and at different speeds whereby rotation of the blank about its own axis will means for positively controlling the passage of a blank positioned by said grinding wheel and work holder and work support, across the grinding surface of said wheel.

13. A precision grinding machine of the centerless type comprising a bed, a work support rigidly carried thereby, a grinding wheel mounted on the bed adjacent the support for rotationin the direction of the support, and a regulating wheel supported by the bed at the opposite side of the work support having its surface adjacent tapered articles including a work support, a.

be controlled, and helical grinding wheel adjacent the work support oper-. I

able at a high or grinding speed with its operawork support, and a regulating member disposed 'tive portion moving in a direction toward the adjacent the support in opposition to the grinding wheel with ,its operative surface movable upwardly as respects the support and at a slow rate of speed to frictionally engage and control the rotation of work pieces on the support, said parts together forming a work receiving throat and said regulating member being formed with a transversely tilted helical path providing a series .of work receiving recesses adapted to support a plurality of work pieces in opposition to the operative portion of the grinding wheel whereby rotation of the work controlling member will rotate the work pieces and cause a transverse shifting of the effective portions of the paths to feed the work pieces axially along the support and transversely of the grinding member substantially as described.

15. A machine for producing non-cylindrical elongated work including a rigid work support for a plurality of workpieces, a grinding member at one side of the support and regulating means in opposition to the grinding member having a plurality of portions for line contact with the distant sides of individual work pieces to present the grinding wheel sides thereof in a continuous line, parallel to the face of the grinding wheel when the work pieces are of the prescribed taper, said regulating wheel having distant portions for rotating the work pieces and for. axially advancing the work pieces during rotation, while maintaining their prescribed relation to the grinding wheel.

16. A machine for 'the'multiple production of tapered articles such as rollsl for roller bearings including a work rest, a work regulating wheel 50 work receiving recesses formed therein correincluding a bed,

sponding in shape to that of the work pieces whereby a plurality of similar work pieces will be simultaneously supported by said member for corresponding engagement by the grinding wheel.

, 17. A machine for the multiple production of tapered articles such as rolls for roller bearings including a work rest and a work regulating wheel for supporting and controlling the position and rotation of the work during grinding and an opposed grinding wheel disposed in cooperative relation to said parts for simultaneous grinding of a plurality ofrolls supported thereby, one of the two first named parts having a plurality of tilted work receiving recesses formed therein corresponding in shape to .that of the work pieces whereby a plurality of similar work pieces will be simultaneously supported by said member for corresponding engagement by the grinding wheel, and one of the two first. named members have portions extending adjacent the tapered work receiving seats for terminal engagement with the individual work pieces therein to determine the aidal position of said individual work pieces with respect to their seats and thus the finished diameter thereof as produced by the grinding wheel. 18. A grinding machine of the centerless type a work support carried thereby, a rotatable grinding wheel at one side of and adjacent the work support, a rotatable regulating wheel on the opposite side of said work sup port, said regulating wheel having a surface opposed" to the grinding wheel surface and pitched at an angle thereto, whereby a tapered work piece may be supported by said work support and in contact with the grinding face of said grinding wheel and the said] surface of said regulating Wheel pitched at an angle to said grinding wheelsurface, and means on said regu- 1 mm No. 1,970,771.

lating wheel for axially positioning a, tapered work piece relatively to said pitched surface.

19. A grinding machine of the centerless type including a bed, a work support carried thereby, a rotatable grinding wheel at one side of and adjacent the work support, a rotatable regulating wheel on the opposite side of said work support, said regulating wheel having a surface opposed to 'the grinding wheel surface and pitched at an angle. thereto, whereby a tapered work piece may be supported by said work support and in contact with the grinding face of said grinding wheel and the said surface of said regulating wheel pitched at an angle to said grinding wheel surface, and means on said regulating wheel for axially positioning a tapered work piece relatively to said pitched surface and feeding the work piece axially.

20. A grinding machine of the centerless type including a bed, a work support'carried thereby, a rotatable grinding wheel at one side of and adjacent said support, and a rotatable regulating wheel on the opposite side of said support, said regulating wheel having a work engaging-path to engage the side of a tapered work piece and hold the opposite side thereof in contact with the grinding face of said grinding wheel and control the rotation of the tapered work piece.

during grinding thereof, said regulating wheel having means to, position a tapered'work piece axially during the grinding thereof.

21. A grinding machine of. the centerless type including a bed, a work support carried thereby, a rotatable grinding wheel at one side of and adjacent said support, a rotatable regulating wheel on the opposite side of said support, said wheels having opposed faces positioned at an angle to each other whereby said opposed faces and said work support form a tapered grinding throat for the reception of a tapered work, piece to be ground, oneof said wheels having means .to engage and axially position a tapered work piece during grinding thereof.

' JOHN w. SMITH.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

August 21, 1934.

JOHN w. SMITH.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as'iollows: Page 4, after linell8,

In a centerless grinding machine for across said grinding element in a path substantially parallel to said. grinding element, and means for supporting said rollerblanks with their axes at an angle guided as aforesaid.

And that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to therecordoi the casein'the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of September, ,A. D. 1934.

(Seal) l Lesl ie Frazer finishing tapered rollers, a grinding of roller blanks endwise and in succession Acting Connniss ioncr of Patcuto.

' work receiving recesses formed therein correincluding a bed,

sponding in shape to that of the work pieces whereby a plurality of similar work pieces will be simultaneously supported by said member for corresponding engagement by the grinding wheel.

, 17. A machine for the multiple production of tapered articles such as rolls for roller bearings including a work rest and a work regulating wheel for supporting and controlling the position and rotation of the work during grinding and an opposed grinding wheel disposed in cooperative relation to said parts for simultaneous grinding of a plurality ofrolls supported thereby, one of the two first named parts having a plurality of tilted work receiving recesses formed therein corresponding in shape to .that of the work pieces whereby a plurality of similar work pieces will be simultaneously supported by said member for corresponding engagement by the grinding wheel, and one of the two first. named members have portions extending adjacent the tapered work receiving seats for terminal engagement with the individual work pieces therein to determine the aidal position of said individual work pieces with respect to their seats and thus the finished diameter thereof as produced by the grinding wheel. 18. A grinding machine of the centerless type a work support carried thereby, a rotatable grinding wheel at one side of and adjacent the work support, a rotatable regulating wheel on the opposite side of said work sup port, said regulating wheel having a surface opposed" to the grinding wheel surface and pitched at an angle thereto, whereby a tapered work piece may be supported by said work support and in contact with the grinding face of said grinding wheel and the said] surface of said regulating Wheel pitched at an angle to said grinding wheelsurface, and means on said regu- 1 mm No. 1,970,771.

lating wheel for axially positioning a, tapered work piece relatively to said pitched surface.

19. A grinding machine of the centerless type including a bed, a work support carried thereby, a rotatable grinding wheel at one side of and adjacent the work support, a rotatable regulating wheel on the opposite side of said work support, said regulating wheel having a surface opposed to 'the grinding wheel surface and pitched at an angle. thereto, whereby a tapered work piece may be supported by said work support and in contact with the grinding face of said grinding wheel and the said surface of said regulating wheel pitched at an angle to said grinding wheel surface, and means on said regulating wheel for axially positioning a tapered work piece relatively to said pitched surface and feeding the work piece axially.

20. A grinding machine of the centerless type including a bed, a work support'carried thereby, a rotatable grinding wheel at one side of and adjacent said support, and a rotatable regulating wheel on the opposite side of said support, said regulating wheel having a work engaging-path to engage the side of a tapered work piece and hold the opposite side thereof in contact with the grinding face of said grinding wheel and control the rotation of the tapered work piece.

during grinding thereof, said regulating wheel having means to, position a tapered'work piece axially during the grinding thereof.

21. A grinding machine of. the centerless type including a bed, a work support carried thereby, a rotatable grinding wheel at one side of and adjacent said support, a rotatable regulating wheel on the opposite side of said support, said wheels having opposed faces positioned at an angle to each other whereby said opposed faces and said work support form a tapered grinding throat for the reception of a tapered work, piece to be ground, oneof said wheels having means .to engage and axially position a tapered work piece during grinding thereof.

' JOHN w. SMITH.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

August 21, 1934.

JOHN w. SMITH.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as'iollows: Page 4, after linell8,

In a centerless grinding machine for across said grinding element in a path substantially parallel to said. grinding element, and means for supporting said rollerblanks with their axes at an angle guided as aforesaid.

And that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to therecordoi the casein'the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of September, ,A. D. 1934.

(Seal) l Lesl ie Frazer finishing tapered rollers, a grinding of roller blanks endwise and in succession Acting Connniss ioncr of Patcuto. 

